Comments on Why isn't voltage of electric chair higher?
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Why isn't voltage of electric chair higher?
I recall vividly a story told by my grandfather who worked with high voltage power lines. A worker drove heavy machinery into 700kV line and then jumped out of the truck, instantly combusting upon touching the ground.
I recently read about executions by electric chair, and got curious as to what voltage is used, since the described process seemed to last upwards to a minute, which seems incredibly unnecessary. Various sources indicate that voltage ranging from 1400V-2300V is used, most often figuring around 2000V. If we know that it is current that kills, it seems intuitive to use much higher voltage to achieve higher current, in effect speeding up the process.
Are there any considerations from electrical perspective, such as safety regulations, fuse ratings etc. that could be a reason for using this particular voltage and not going higher?
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I think your grandfathers story is, shall we say, apocryphal.
You should know that electrocution kills by stopping the heart (or causing fibrillation), and the heart must be kept from beating long enough for the person to die. It only takes a few mA to accomplish this and there is no benefit...no speedup...in using drastically higher voltages or currents.
Some people have been struck (or nearly struck) by lightning and survived. The high voltage stopped their heart but the heart started beating again without intervention.
On the other hand, using higher voltages requires more expensive equipment and presents a greater risk to bystanders.
Please don't interpret anything I have said here as support for capital punishment.
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